Now Commenting On:

Mariners finalize Saunders deal, designate Carp

Veteran left-hander owns 6-0 record in nine career starts at Safeco Field

Email

Print

Saunders and Seattle's rotation 1:14

MLB.com's Hot Stove crew takes a look at how starter Joe Saunders fits into the Mariners rotation after inking a one-year deal

By Greg Johns

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Left-handed starter Joe Saunders officially signed a one-year Major League deal with the Mariners on Tuesday evening and first baseman/outfielder Mike Carp was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster.

Saunders agreed last week to a $6.5 million contract that also includes a mutual option for 2014 but had to pass his physical on Tuesday before the deal could be finalized.

Saunders, 31, gives Seattle a third veteran to go along with Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma and provides an experienced lefty to a staff lacking a southpaw since the trade of Jason Vargas to the Angels for Kendrys Morales.

Mariners pitchers and catchers reported on Tuesday and will take the field for the first time Wednesday morning.

Saunders went 9-13 with a 4.07 ERA last season for Arizona and Baltimore, finishing out the season with a 3-3 mark and 3.63 ERA in seven starts with the Orioles after a late-August trade. He also pitched very well in two postseason games for the Orioles, giving up just two runs in 11 1/3 innings against the Rangers and Yankees.

Saunders, who spent the first six years of his career with the Angels, has a 6-0 record and 2.13 ERA in 55 innings over nine starts at Safeco Field. His career record is 78-65 with a 4.15 ERA in 189 games. The Virginia native was an All-Star in 2008, when he went 17-7 with a 3.41 ERA for the Angels. He became a free agent this year after earning $6 million in 2012.

Carp, 26, opened last year as Seattle's starting left fielder but sprained his shoulder diving for a ball in the regular-season opener in the Tokyo Dome and hit just .213 in 59 games while spending much of the season on the disabled list. He was expected to be limited to first-base duties this year.

Carp batted .276 with 12 home runs and 46 RBIs in 2011 after joining the team in midseason, but he became the odd man out this offseason when the club traded for Morales and Michael Morse and signed Raul Ibanez, who can all play first base and DH.

The Mariners have 10 days to trade, release or outright Carp to the Minor Leagues, with a trade the likely option given the interest teams have shown in him in recent days.